The Sydney Swans have fought off an early challenge from the undefeated Brisbane Lions to secure second spot on the NEAFL ladder with a 37-point victory on Sunday the SCG.

Brisbane started out in dream fashion with the first four goals of the game, but were outplayed thereafter to lose 15.12 (102) to 10.5 (65).

The Lions defence also looked in fine form early on, with their brilliant pressure game in defence only allowing two Swans behinds from an extended spell in the hosts’ forward 50.

It took a 50-metre penalty to Sydney for them to register their first major of the day, doing so through Sam Fisher at the 22-minute mark of the first term.

It kick-started a momentum swing for the Swans, who started the second quarter with a goal inside the first 30 seconds.

Best-on-ground Nic Newman showed why he is so highly rated at the club, taking the ball on his defensive 50, running past multiple defenders, turning down his teammates and slotting a goal from 50 metres out for their second major of the term.

An opportunistic Ryan Bastinac goal was just enough for Brisbane to take a slender two-point lead into half-time, but Sydney kept coming.

From the outset of the second half, it became clear that the match would descend into an arm wrestle, with neither team able to assert their dominance in the opening moments of the third quarter.

But on a day where opportunism was dutifully rewarded, it was the superior skill of the hosts who were able to keep their score ticking over.

Sydney booted five goals to one in the third to break the match open, and the margin blew out to as much as 49 points during the last before the Lions kicked three in a row.

Newman was the star of the day with 30 disposals, nine rebound 50s and a goal, while Sam Murray (22 disposals, two goals), and Darcy Cameron (16 disposals, 35 hit-outs) were also strong performers.

Cedric Cox, Rohan Bewick (24 disposals) and Ryan Bastinac (28 disposals, two goals) were among Brisbane’s better players.

Next week, the Swans travel to Canberra to face the Demons, while Brisbane returns to Queensland to take on the winless Redland Bombers.

SYDNEY 1.4 4.8 9.12 15.12 (102)
BRISBANE 4.2 5.4 6.4 10.5 (65)
GOALS – Sydney: S Murray 2 J Dawson 2 S Fisher 2 J Foote W Gowers D Cameron J Mapleson B Jack H MacDonald N Newman T Leonardis C O’Riordan. Brisbane: B Grewar 2 R Bastinac 2 J Clayton J Jansen J Walker T Bell O McInerney R William.
BEST – Sydney: N Newman S Murray J Mapleson D Cameron J Maibaum J Foote. Brisbane: C Cox R Bewick L Dawson M Hammelmann J Walker R Bastinac.